Vasily Elagin

February 20, 1953

A geologist, International Master of Sports in mountaineering, holder of the title “Snow Leopard”. Vasilii is a record holder who left his mark in the history of Arctic exploration: he led the Marine Live-Ice Automobile Expedition, which was the first to reach the Pole by wheeled vehicles; Vasilii Elagin is the main designer of the amphibian AT vehicle “Emelia”.

Vasilii’s experience includes 50 challenging high-altitude and big wall ascents, extreme downhill skiing, participation in sailing voyages and arctic expeditions. He organized and led the rally Paris - Moscow - Beijing, travelled about 1,000 km along the coast of the Chukchi Sea by “Buran” snowmobile, crossed Australia by an offroadster, drove 7,000 km through the Namib and the Kalahari Deserts.

“My love of traveling and the Arctic began with the children’s books - the works of Jack London and Jules Verne. As an adult, I realized that I did not want to do the same thing every day, to live a normal life. I needed a different degree of freedom, which could be found in expeditions, ascents and adventures.

Aleksei Makarov’s “Burlak” is heavier than “Emelia”; its design is more complicated. When I saw the car project and traced the planned route, I decided to participate in the tests to see the machinery in operation. On top of it, it is an opportunity to visit the Arctic again. I’m looking forward to seeing it.”